Evaluating Scientific Explanations Answers

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Which is an unreliable source?

A
A scientist who studies dinosaurs presents her research on velociraptors at a science convention.
B
An advertisement for acne medication claims it can clear up acne in less than one week.
C
An article on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website discusses the salmonella bacteria.
D
A chemistry teacher discusses possible projects for the upcoming science fair.
2
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Read the article by Michael Fumento, writer for the New York Post editorial blog, who does not support global warming.Back in 2005 I and others reviewed the entire hurricane record, which goes back over a century, and found no increase of any kind. Yes, we sometimes get bad storms—but no frequently now than in the past. The advocates simply ignored that evidence.Fact is, the earth was cooling and warming long before greenhouse gases could have been a factor. The [global warming supporters] have been proved wrong time and time again.

A
Nationally certified organizations are considered an unreliable source because the public can access their information.
B
Charities are considered a reliable source because the public makes financial contributions to them.
C
Editorial blogs are considered an unreliable source because the author may not have a science background.
D
Editorial blogs are considered a reliable source because authors contribute to them regularly.
3

What is it called when scientists in the same or similar field of study judge the quality of a fellow scientist’s scientific claim?

A
academic claim
B
academic review
C
peer claim
D
peer review
4

Which factor is found in a scientific claim?

A
endorsements by celebrities
B
subjective data
C
similar results in multiple tests of the claim
D
data based on opinions
5

Which source is most likely an authority on the subject?

A
Dr. Vale, a pediatrician, discusses electrical circuitry on her home-improvement website.
B
Jonah, an amateur cook, teaches his son how to make the best grilled cheese sandwiches.
C
Susan, an architect, presents her hand-made quilts at the Quilting Society.
D
Dr. Patel, a cardiologist, presents her findings on heart disease.
6

Cookware companies have been using a chemical called C-8, which helps to create a nonstick coating to pans. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently claimed that the use of C-8 in the manufacturing of nonstick cookware should be discontinued because studies show it causes cancer.

A
restaurants that use C-8-coated cookware
B
cookware manufacturers who make pans out of steel only
C
stores that sell C-8 nonstick cookware
D
individuals who use steel cookware at home
7

Sharon reads two different articles about avocados. The first article, in a weight-loss magazine, claims that avocados are unhealthy because they are high in fat. The second article, in an annual publication from a doctors’ group, claims that the fat in avocados is a type that is good for the heart.To assess these claims, which question might Sharon ask?

A
Which source do avocados come from?
B
Where are avocados sold?
C
Is the source an authority on the subject?
D
How much do avocados cost?
8

If peers accept a scientific paper’s claim, what is the next step in the process?

A
Peers will ask for further revisions.
B
Peers will distribute the paper to scientists outside their field.
C
A journal will publish the paper.
D
A journal will ask for more documentation of data.
9

Read the passage about the fluoridation of drinking water.Since the early 1960s, fluoride has been added to many sources of drinking water to prevent cavities in teeth. This is called fluoridation. There are some who say that this is unnecessary and increases the risk of cancer.In 1993, the Subcommittee on Health Effects of Ingested Fluoride of the National Research Council, part of the National Academy of Sciences, conducted an extensive study about the link between fluoridated drinking water and increased cancer risk. The study included data from more than 50 human disease studies and six animal studies. The Subcommittee concluded that none of the data showed a link between fluoridated drinking water and cancer. A 1999 report by the CDC supported these findings. The CDC report concluded that studies so far have produced "no credible evidence” of a link between fluoridated drinking water and an increased risk for cancer.

A
Fluoride has been added to drinking water since the 1960s.
B
Some people doubt the necessity of fluoridation.
C
More than 50 studies were conducted.
D
Fluoride has been found to prevent cavities in teeth.
10

Which is one way that scientists ensure that data is reliable?

A
through data display
B
by replicating experiments
C
through Internet research
D
by providing clear explanations

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